1 – Start Looking Early
Start looking for childcare as far in advance as you can. No matter what type of care you are considering – a childcare center or care in someone else’s home – finding the right child care option can take some time.
2 – Make Some Phone Calls
Begin your search by calling calling some of the childcare businesses that you found here on MyChildcare.ie. You can very often get a good feel for a place by simply calling them and having a chat with the manager or a staff member. You can then make an arrangment to pay them a visit
3 – Visit and Ask Lots of Questions
Make sure you visit the childcare options you are considering. Find out about important key indicators of quality:
Adult to Child Ratio: Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of attention. The younger your child, the more important this is. Recommended ratios are:
Full Day Care Service:
| Age Range | Adult/Child Ratio |
| 0-1 Year | 1:3 |
| 1-2 Years | 1:5 |
| 2-3 Years | 1:6 |
| 3-6 Years | 1:8 |
Part Time Day Care Service:
| Age Range | Adult/Child Ratio |
| 0-1 Year | 1:3 |
| 1-2 Years | 1:5 |
| 2-3 Years | 1:6 |
| 3-6 Years | 1:8 |
Sessional Preschool Service:
| Age Range | Adult/Child Ratio |
| 0-1 Year | 1:3 |
| 1-2.5 Years | 1:5 |
| 2.5 – 6 Years | 1:10 |
Pre-school service in a drop-in centre or in a temporary drop-in centre:
| Age Range | Adult/Child Ratio | Max Group Size |
| Full age integration 0-6 years | 1:4 | 24 |
| 1-4 children (no more than 2 children < 15 mths) to 1 adult Maximum group size 24 |
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Group Size: Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25 two-year olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio. Which would be calmer and safer? Which would be more like a family?
Staff Qualifications: Ask about the staff training and education. Staff with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the staff involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops?
Staff Turnover: Check how long staff have been at the center or providing care in their own homes. It’s best if children stay with the same minder at least a year. Staff who come and go make it hard on your child. Getting used to new staff takes time and energy that could be spent on learning new things.
Accreditation and HSE Registered: Find out if the child care provider has been registered with the HSE.
4 -Make a Choice
Think about what you saw at each visit, and make the best choice for your child and family. Try to keep notes as you go so you can remember the good points of the places you liked that you visited.
5 – Stay Involved
The hard work isn’t over the minute you find childcare for your child. You and your chosen childcare provider need to stay in touch to talk about how your child is getting on there. Some childcare facilities have parent evenings, attend these and get involved where possible. Even if you can’t get time off from work during the day, you can still check in at drop-off and pick-up times. Ask the caregiver how things are going, and how your child is doing.
Visiting and participating in events at your child’s creche or preschool sends a strong message. It tells your child and the creche/preschool that what your child is doing is important to you.
